If I am to be queen of the wood,
then I must have the nosegay too!
Hänsel (gives her the nosegay).
Queen of the wood, with sceptre and crown,
I give you the strawberries,
but don't eat them all!
(He gives the basket full of strawberries into her other hand, at the same time kneeling before her in homage. At this moment the cuckoo is heard.)
Cuckoo, cuckoo, how d'you do?
Gretel.
Cuckoo, cuckoo, where are you?